Oil leak out from Camshaft gasket sealer
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2007 clk550 carb
Oil leak out from Camshaft gasket sealer
I have a 2007, clk550 carb, with 64k, recently I smell oil burn and see leak under the car. I bring to my friend mechanic. He diagnose camshaft gasket leak and need to be replace, is there such thing as camshaft gasket? Or I need is the valve cover gasket? Can someone with me some advice
#2
MBWorld Fanatic!
I have a 2007, clk550 carb, with 64k, recently I smell oil burn and see leak under the car. I bring to my friend mechanic. He diagnose camshaft gasket leak and need to be replace, is there such thing as camshaft gasket? Or I need is the valve cover gasket? Can someone with me some advice
No, it valve covers leak and drop onto the exhaust and you get that oil burn smell.
#3
MBworld Guru
Actually, a common leak (as I found out two weeks ago) is a leaky "cam plug". There are two of them on the back of the engine's left side valve cover. They are round plastic caps that snap in place on the ends of the valve cover right behind the cam shafts. There is a larger one, about 2 inches in diameter, behind the intake cam, and a smaller about one inch in diameter, behind the exhaust cam. You can barely see them between the valve cover and the firewall. You can feel them with your hand, though. Remove the engine covers and run your hand down there and if it comes back oily, that's the culprit. The good news is they are inexpensive and easy to replace. I paid about $14 for both of them and it took five minutes to replace them. Just use a plastic wedge (or a gentle hand with a screwdriver) to pry them loose, then snap the new ones in place.
The following users liked this post:
StradaRedlands (03-08-2017)
Trending Topics
The following users liked this post:
ike_thermite (08-10-2019)
#12
MBworld Guru
Uh, that is beyond ridiculous! If it truly is just the cam plugs, then ask them if the job comes with a "happy ending", too! Yes, the cam plugs are on the rear left (US driver's) side of the engine. On the V8, you won't be able to see them without a mirror, but you will be able to feel them. You'll need to remove the engine cover for access. It literally takes 10 minutes to replace these, and no tools other than a screwdriver to pry the old ones off. They just snap in place.
#13
MBWorld Fanatic!
No way even a dealer is charging you $450 for that. They are talking about something else. It's about as hard as screwing the lid on a pickle jar. They are on the back of your heads. Use a small mirror.
#19
MBworld Guru
That photo is an M272, right? I think the M273 (5.5l V8) is a bit different. It only has cam plugs on the left head, and both are snap-in caps - no bolts. The right head has nothing on the back of the head to leak.
#20
Super Moderator
![](https://staticssl.ibsrv.net/autocomm/Content/MB/mbwambassador2.gif)
Thats a M272 - should have stated. I was not aware the V8 was different.
#21
Super Moderator
![](https://staticssl.ibsrv.net/autocomm/Content/MB/mbwambassador2.gif)
Ah - it depends how the engine is spec'ed for the vehicle.
Bulletin:
Oil Seepage From Back of Cylinder Heads on Mercedes M272/273 Engines
This bulletin affects all Mercedes vehicles equipped with M272/273 engines built up to June 2008 production date.
If you receive customer reports of oil seeping from Mercedes vehicles equipped with M272/273 engines, the cause could be the round plastic expansion plugs on the back of the cylinder heads (Figure 1). To resolve, perform the following.
Note: As of June 2008 production, new improved plugs were phased into production.
There are two different size plugs as listed below:
• p/n - A000 998 55 90 – 2 small expansion plugs
• p/n - A000 998 56 90 – 1 large expansion plug (engines without vacuum pump)
Remove the existing plugs, clean the opening and install new plugs (Figure 2). Note: The plug opening should free of grease or oil. No sealer should be used in the installation of the new plugs.
![](https://mbworld.org/forums/attachments/clk-class-w209/232542d1333681536-oil-leak-out-camshaft-gasket-sealer-m272-273.jpg)
Bulletin:
Oil Seepage From Back of Cylinder Heads on Mercedes M272/273 Engines
This bulletin affects all Mercedes vehicles equipped with M272/273 engines built up to June 2008 production date.
If you receive customer reports of oil seeping from Mercedes vehicles equipped with M272/273 engines, the cause could be the round plastic expansion plugs on the back of the cylinder heads (Figure 1). To resolve, perform the following.
Note: As of June 2008 production, new improved plugs were phased into production.
There are two different size plugs as listed below:
• p/n - A000 998 55 90 – 2 small expansion plugs
• p/n - A000 998 56 90 – 1 large expansion plug (engines without vacuum pump)
Remove the existing plugs, clean the opening and install new plugs (Figure 2). Note: The plug opening should free of grease or oil. No sealer should be used in the installation of the new plugs.
![](https://mbworld.org/forums/attachments/clk-class-w209/232542d1333681536-oil-leak-out-camshaft-gasket-sealer-m272-273.jpg)
![](https://mbworld.org/forums/attachments/clk-class-w209/232543d1333681536-oil-leak-out-camshaft-gasket-sealer-m272-273.jpg)
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; 04-05-2012 at 11:12 PM.
The following users liked this post:
ike_thermite (08-10-2019)
#22
Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
CLK500
Hey guys, I hope I'm not hijacking this thread but it went perfectly with my problem. I have the oil leaking on to the exhaust issue. I had a burning oil smell on my driver side as well as I saw smoke. I was quoted on valve cover gaskets to be a $560 job on my clk500. is that right?
#23
Super Moderator
![](https://staticssl.ibsrv.net/autocomm/Content/MB/mbwambassador2.gif)
I can't comment on whether the price is reasonable or not. But frequently the problem is not the cambox gaskets but rather the cam bore blanker plugs/expansion plugs that we are talking about here.
#24
Super Moderator
![](https://staticssl.ibsrv.net/autocomm/Content/MB/mbwambassador2.gif)
M273
255 A 000 997 76 20 EXPANSION PLUG
AT CYLINDER HEAD 002
260 A 000 997 78 20 EXPANSION PLUG
VACUUM PUMP NO LONGER APPLICABLE 001
OK - all engines 272/273 should have 2 small expansion plugs.
Some engines without vacuum pump will have the large expansion plug.
Latest engines will have screwed on cover as in my pic in place of the large expansion plug.
Note that P/N's quoted here have been superceded by those in the bulletin above.
255 A 000 997 76 20 EXPANSION PLUG
AT CYLINDER HEAD 002
260 A 000 997 78 20 EXPANSION PLUG
VACUUM PUMP NO LONGER APPLICABLE 001
OK - all engines 272/273 should have 2 small expansion plugs.
Some engines without vacuum pump will have the large expansion plug.
Latest engines will have screwed on cover as in my pic in place of the large expansion plug.
Note that P/N's quoted here have been superceded by those in the bulletin above.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; 04-06-2012 at 12:40 PM.
#25
Got my replacement caps. Able to take off the front engine cover. How do I remove the back. Looks like it snaps out but before I go pulling on things, is there a specific way to remove it?
08 cls550
08 cls550